Join IGLTA at ITB BerlinIGLTAGoing to Berlin for ITB 2015? Be sure to stop by the IGLTA stand in the Gay & Lesbian Travel Pavilion (Hall 3.1, Stand 204) and plan on joining our members from around the globe for the following networking receptions:

Don't miss the Gay & Lesbian Tourism Panel on 6 March at the ITB Convention featuring an introductory presentation from Matt Skallerud of Pink Banana Media and a panel composed of IGLTA members from three continents. Click here for more details. Brochure distribution opportunities at the IGLTA stand are still available! Click here for more details.

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PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Rivendell Media RIVENDELL MEDIA is the sales staff for more than 200 LGBT newspapers, magazines & entertainment guides & when you call us you are dealing directly with the publication. Rivendell Media will help you plan & execute media campaigns not only by region, city or budget but also by ethnicity, m/f readership, age & other critical indicators.

Small business spotlightIGLTAThis recurring feature celebrates the small business members of our association, such as R&T Travel, a gay-owned full-service travel agency in operation in the Midwestern U.S. since 1995; and underU4men, which showcases brand-name underwear, swimwear and gym wear in its Portland, Oregon, flagship store.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Texas judge says state's gay-marriage ban is unconstitutionalTIMEA Texas judge ruled on 17 February that the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, in just the latest of numerous rulings striking down bans across the country.
Travis County Probate Judge Guy Herman made the ruling as part of an estate dispute, in which a woman sought to have her eight-year relationship with her late partner accepted as common-law marriage, the Austin Statesman reports.

Gay asylum seekers in the UK will no longer have to answer questions about their sex livesGay Star News Gay asylum seekers in the U.K. will no longer have to answer questions about their sex lives thanks to new guidance from the Home Office.
Caseworkers have received the new policies on how to deal with claims for asylum by gay, lesbian and bisexual people following the revelation that a man fleeing persecution was "interrogated" and asked "shockingly degrading" questions about his sexual history.

Former Irish minister Pat Carey comes out as gay, urges same-sex marriage voteReuters via The Huffington Post A former Irish government minister announced he was gay on Friday and appealed to older voters to support same-sex marriage in a May referendum in the traditionally conservative Catholic country.
Two decades after Ireland legalized homosexuality, polls show overwhelming support for same-sex marriage but the church says it would be "a grave injustice."

Shibuya ward proposes recognition of same-sex couplesJapan TrendsA proposal to give recognition same-sex couple has been submitted to Shibuya City, one of the wards in central Tokyo.
A bylaw proposal will be submitted to the ward congress in March which would allow for the certificates to be issued recognizing same-same couples, reports Kyodo News. If approved, it would be effective from 1 April and the start of the 2015 fiscal year.
It would make Shibuya the only governing body in Japan issuing such documentation to same-sex couples.

Do they hide their faces? Searching for gay life in West AfricaSlate Magazine Miz Cracker writes: Last year, I wrote an optimistic article for Outward about homophobia in West Africa. Drawing on my own experiences traveling in Senegal as a gay boy and undercover drag queen, I wanted to test American perceptions of the region against the reality. I described how my sexuality was acknowledged and accepted, at least on a personal level, and how diplomatic pressure from President Barack Obama was sparking a new conversation about gay rights in the area. I saw potential for change. There was reason for hope.

Chinese short film urging parents to accept gay children goes viralThe Hollywood ReporterIn a country where homosexuality remains a big taboo, a short film urging parents in China to accept their gay children has gone viral and notched up more than 100 million online views.
Coming Home tells the story of a young gay man who is shunned by his parents after coming out, before eventually being accepted by them years later.

5 travel trends for 2015The Huffington Post Edward Piegza writes: Working in a travel company, I'm constantly talking to people who are planning trips up to 18 months in the future. What that yields is a terrific inside look at how people are thinking about travel, where they intend to go, how they are collecting information, and what matters most to them. Some trends are evergreen and constantly growing.

NEXT Vacations exclusive cruise groupsPursue your passion for screening the best new independent gay and lesbian films on Modern Luxury cruises designed for the entire LGBT community, our families, friends and supporters. Cinema Diverse at Sea is NEXT Vacations’ exclusive groups aboard Celebrity Cruises and include All-Access film festival pass in one low fare.

The hotel industry's race to escape the dinosaur ageBuzzFeedHow many times have you entered your room at a large chain hotel, thrown your luggage down to relax, and noticed the antiquated stereo system with an iPod dock from three models ago perched on the bedside table? Next to it lies a paper room-service menu and a clunky, ancient telephone to use if you want to order up a late night snack.